Election crimes: DSPs asked to step up vigil

HYDERABAD: In view of the upcoming state elections, police have been directed to identify repeat offenders and earmark sensitive areas. District police officials have asked the deputy superintendents of police (DSP) and station house officers (SHO), who took charge following the recent spate of transfers, to keep a vigil on regular reporting of crime.

The police are on the job of collecting details of those who indulged in offences during the previous elections. According to sources, a number of criminals in the rural areas have changed their residential addresses and police are unable to trace them out.

The superintendents of police have asked the DSPs and SHOs to identify the sensitive and hypersensitive areas in their respective jurisdictions and take measures to prevent untoward incidents.

The SPs conducted review meetings with the SHOs and senior police officials in analysing the local law and order situations. Jogulamba Gadwal Superintendent of Police K. Srujana directed the SHOs to have a proper idea on their jurisdiction and locality by keeping track of regular movements of history sheeters and suspect sheeters as precautionary measures.

SP Srujana inquired about the pending cases, cases which are still under investigation and the status of sensitive cases. “SHOs must call history sheeters and suspects in several cases to the police station and provide counselling not to indulge in any offence. If the miscreants are indulged in offences repeatedly, SHOs will bind over them to prevent crimes,” the SP said.

Personnel were told to visit villages and mingle with people to get information and educate them not to indulge in crime during the elections. Following incidents of harassment of people in police stations, the SP strongly warned the staff not to harass suspects or accused physically.